Happy Easter!!

The egg that's a replica of Kerri crafted by Marlayna. 

Can you see the resemblence? Oh and, Amber taped Ker's mouth all crazy. hahah.

The golden egg I painted

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!!

She loves posing for pics now so funny

Remeber These gals? They are all growed up now! We get a good 50 eggs a week. 

They are the funniest little chickens, well, not so little now. 

Feeding the Chickens wheat

Yaz handing out the wheat rations

Good job snagging that one ams! Notice tates affinity for tools in the background already. hehe.

Making bead watches while the men head down stairs for a game of pirates dice.

My cousin and his fiance came down! Yay!

And my cousin and her boy! In there matchy pjs! 

It was so fun having the fam here! And just to be home and to enjoy the easter celebrations!  

I'm Home.

It’s really weird to be home. I love it! But it is weird. 
I am in such a bittersweet realm at the moment. There were so many people in Oklahoma that I grew to love and learned so much from. I miss them dearly. But, while I was there, I was missing so many that I loved. So, it is good to be home, and be with the ones who made me who I was in order to go out and love the ones that have helped make me who I knew I could always be. Does that make sense? Anyway. I have many people to thank for who I am today. MANY People. And I'm home. 


My last week of shifts went Awesome! We had way to much fun on the ambulance! And I was so sad for it to be my last shift on Friday. My preceptor has been a paramedic for a couple years now, and has had several students. For some reason, each one of his students on their last day, last shift, last patient, that patient is just bound to die. For some reason, every time, that patient is just not gonna live. Well, I broke his streak. But, that doesn't mean I didn't have my fair share of patients die. Just not my last one. I think it was because I kept singing Nappy Roots song "Good Day" It goes a little something like this: 

Gonna be a good day, Ain't nobody gotta cry today, cause ain't nobody gonna die today, save that drama for another day, hey, it's gonna be a good day.

That's probably what did it right there. And the fact that we had had two patients die that week. So, we ended on a good note, a transport. Bahaha! Which, turned out to have a very neat CT Scan. He had air in his brain. Not even kidding, got hit in the head with a shock absorber, cracked his skull, and air leaked through his sinuses and into his brian. Giving his scan the appearance of little black worms in his brain. Very interesting. Anyway, no worries, he was completely with it, and just being transported from one hospitals ER to another hospital where they had a neurologist that could somehow deal with the situation.

Saying good bye on Friday was super hard. I learned So SO So much from Blake. And, not gonna lie, I'm really bummed that Leslie and him are on the ambulance right now, and I'm not. But, it did make me happy to get a text back from him after I let him know we got home safe, saying:

Wish you were back. I forgot how to do everything and have a new student now. Today is his first clinical ever... We've got a lot of work to do

Which made me really happy, because that really means that Leslie and I did EVERYTHING! I was actually in charge, and he had let me be the medic for the month that I was with him. Which Rocks! Especially on the critical calls. One in particular stands out, where we walked into the house, fire was doing CPR, I had them put the monitor on, I check for a pulse, nothing. The basic on our truck that day asks: "Hey, do you need me?" Blake tells him "naw, we got this." And he went and got a history for me from the family. I set up the airway, tell Blake to get the IV, hang a line, and push epinephrine and atropine. I get the tube in, tell fire to continue with ventilations and compressions, we get her secured and ready to go, I look around, and Blake is over in the other room giving stickers to a little kid! It was awesome! He had that much confidence in me to just be able to watch from a distance, and let me run everything!  I check for a pulse, a rhythm, and we have a very weak pulse, and a very nice looking ECG. Continue on with everything. Half way through the transport, the patient will blink twice when I ask her to, and is spontaneously moving her hands. Got her into the hospital, give report, and transfer care to them. And it was awesome! And Blake was so proud! There were other calls where he wouldn't know specific details on patients until we got them to the hospital and I was telling the nurse everything that I had found out and what was pertinent. Which was awesome, because then he could write his report on the information I gave to the nurse, which means that the report I gave was really good too! Now, don't get me wrong. He had eyes in the back of his head. He was always there at the precise moment I needed him, or right there to correct my errors. And when I had a question, we would discuss about 4 different solutions to one thing. He really got me thinking, and he was an awesome preceptor! Anyway, point of that. I learned a ton! Miss the ambulance a Lot! And am so glad that I got to go through those experiences and gained so much confidence because of the confidence that was placed in me.

Every Friday night, after shift. Stetson (BYU-I Paramedic Student that has helped get me through since day 1 of the program) and we would go have, what I call, a "pancake party". We went to either Denny's or IHOP once a week from the week he arrived. It just so happened that the only time we could get together was at 1:30 in the morning after our Friday shifts. So, this last Friday, we stayed at IHOP until 4 in the morning. Just chattin it up. And, I am really going to miss our little pancake parties. But, they were so good to just unwind, talk about some of the calls we had had, hear each others experiences, and just be able to laugh and enjoy blueberry pancakes and oreo milk shakes w nachos and fries on occasion. The funniest thing about IHOP on a friday night is, It's PACKED!! Especially at 2 in the morning. I found out later, that it's because the nearby bar kicks everyone out at 1:30, and the next best thing that is open that late just happens to be Denny's or IHOP. Which gets super funny when you start looking around you at all the different characters that show up. But, breakfast food parties are probably one of my favorite things Ever! Especially at wee hours of the morning.

Saturday was awesome. Went to a service project where we helped sand the drywall putty from a little families house that caught on fire back in November and the contractor up and left with all of the money that they had given him to restore the house. So, a couple kids from the branch went and helped them out. I got my oil changed while we were there. And then, we went to a surprise birthday party for Joey. Which was SO much fun! Man, I am gonna miss the kids from the branch! They threw me and Brittany a going away party deal fro FHE last monday. Which was so nice of them. And each one of them wrote me a little card, and it was so nice of them! And, it was a blast and a half!! And I just want to thank them for doing that, it meant a lot. Five of them sang us a song at the end of it, that was AmAzInG! And if they ever get it recorded, I will for sure be putting it on here!

Sunday. Last day ever. Church was so good! As always. Went and watched the Blind Side at Joey's later that night. And then, at 11:07 PM, went and picked Mom and Dad up at the Airport! YAY!! Mom and Dad are the greatest! They met my closest friends that I made their, shared lots of laughs and stories for a while. They gave me a present that I wasn't allowed to open till I was outside of the city. We said good bye, gave lots of hugs. Shed some tears when I pulled away from them, and drove off with my parents. And, now, I'm home. And my parents should be very glad that they came and got me, or else, I probably would have stayed longer. But, I made a huge playlist of some really great songs that I knew my dad would love for the 20 hour drive we had ahead of us. and, it was definitely a fun drive. Stopped in Sidney, Wyoming for the night. Mom and I went swimming while Dad typed up some more pages of his book. And we had really good food all along the way. We stopped a truck stop with home made apple butter = delicious. and I got a mushroom swiss burger . . . Yum!! And, we made it home safely! And only saw one U-Haul trailer flip a Chevy Blazer over in 50 mph wind gusts. Everyone was okay, including the two cats and the dog that were in the car. Minor scratches and cuts. Gave 'em some alcohol swabs and band-aids and we were back on the road.

Anyway. Good to be home. Sad to be gone, and so happy to be moving forward with life.

My friend got her mission call last night. Went up to her house for that. She is going to the Phillipines in June and I got to see a ton of really good buddies that I haven't seen for a while. I got to see my Uncle and Cousin and go to dinner with them last night. And, I got to see little Yazzi, who did not want me to leave her ever again. Man, I have got the cutest niece and nephew in the world! And, I wish that Amber's blog was for realsie . . . good april fool's joke beansie! But, I want it to be true! Cause your kids are stinkin adorable!!! Anyway, lovin life. Missin the ambulance and the branch. But so happy to come home to a room full of balloons and a pinata full of candy. And now, get to see a ton of people for conference that are coming to stay with us. And I get to see Kerri!! Whoot whoot!! Can't wait! Love conference and easter! Yippee!

468 of my required 480 hours done!

Whoo! Where to start!?

I guess, the best and happiest thing that has happened . . .


I Finally SWITCHED PRECEPTORS!!! 

My new preceptor's name is Blake, and I couldn't be more excited to go to work every day! Man, it is a night and day difference! Pretty much, he tells me every day that the truck is mine, and that I am to take it over. There have been several calls where he hasn't even put gloves on. One patient didn't even know he was in the ambulance with us! Cause he lets me do everything! It rocks! And, if I have a question, we talk about it right then and there, and he makes sure that everyone is comfortable and that things are going smoothly. But, somehow, he always still knows exactly what is going on, and he gives me immediate feed back, and whenever I feel like I really messed up, or I just fell a little short, he always turns it right back around, makes me analyze it in a different light and makes me feel better about the situation. And sometimes I do get the 'okay, what happened there'? look. But, then get the 'alright, let's work on this part, and go get us another one!' chat.
But, what's funny is, I mess up and get jumbled on the patients that are just fine. And basically using us as a glorified taxi service . . . "Ok, so why are we here today? What's different that made you call the ambulance?" Those ones confuse me like crazy! But then, I'll have the patient that's on the ground, not breathing, and know exactly what to do! Tell everyone exactly what they need to be doing, and take complete control of everything that is going on. So . . . I am doing great! All of my evaluations are very positive and I feel like I am deserving the high scores that I am getting! So, pretty sure, I am gonna pass the internship! And, I only have 4 more shifts left. Which, is such a bitter sweet! I am so excited to get home and see my family! But, I am going to miss the people that I have come to love out here, and that have helped me become even more of what I need to be. But, it is time, I have learned way more than I ever thought possible, and am so excited about everything that is going on!

Let's see, I had a 56 year old drunk patient this week where the conversation went a little something like this: And Blake just laughed the entire time, I had to laugh along to, because, this conversation got repeated 3 TIMES!!

Little  background first though, set the scene. Very run down home, no siding, just plywood, all windows boarded off, foundation showing about 3 feet above ground from the dirt being washed away around it, garbage everywhere. The only food, grapefruit peels. The man hasn't eaten in 3 days, wants a sandwich (reason for the trip to the hospital) and has been drinking everything he can get his hands on; besides water. He has to be the one to close his gate, it takes him a good 5 minutes, cause he can hardly stand up straight from being inebriated. And, when we get him to the ambulance, he put his hands on the hood of the truck, like he was getting arrested. Baha! So, he obviously knows the drill. We get him in the back of the ambulance, I ask him to sit down and lean back, and he gives me the most bone-chilling glare I have ever received from a drunk man. So, I say 'please'. And get the response "I don't like you" and the conversation proceeds something like this:

"You look way to young to be doing this! Do you even know what you're doing?"
           (as I'm holding a needle to his arm) bahah!


"How old are you?"

"I'm 20"

"Yep! you're definitely to young! What do you get paid!?"

"I don't get paid, I'm a student" (now up to this point, We've been in the ambulance about 5 minutes. I have been asking questions, finding out a bit of history, and I was still getting the evil eye from him, and I thought I was seriously about to get smacked, but, something about this time, softened his heart)

"You need to find a different job! They're not payin you enough! You're way to nice."
Still a very inquisitive look. He was in awe that I wasn't getting paid, and that I would put up with this sort of stuff, and actually want to make it my profession. 


"Are you married?"

"Nope, I'm to young remember?"

"You're not married!??! . . . . 


"Well, are yah gay?"
we all chuckle at that one.

"No."
(inquisitive stare down to see if I was lyin)

 Well, do you wanna be married!?"

"Eventually, one day, yes."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"


"Nope."
(Which I prolly should have said yes at this point)

"Well, why not?"

"I dunno, I just don't"


"Well, you sure are purty!"


"Well, Thank you."


"Don't say thank you! You're way to nice!"


"What am I supposed to say?"


"Well . . . I dunno! Nothin I guess!"

"Humphhg! . . .  Well . . . Do ya wanna Get Married?"


"No."


Throughout the 30 minute transport, we had a lot of good laughs, and I didn't feel to threatened. I made him cry at one point and then he asked me to marry him again, then he would tell me to find someone really nice and get married, that I am going to be a great wife, and that I really need to find a different job. He even made a couple comments such as "I'm old enough to be your father!" and "I have a son that is 23, but you're not meetin him!" how funny of a call this really was. And told me to go into the army, and then told me that I needed to get some food. Because he asked me if I had a sandwich, and i told him i didn't, and he said, are you lying? and I told him I wasn't, cause if I did, I'd be eaten the other half. So, needless to say, got him to the hospital. Had some good laughs, and he placed an order for a sandwich the second we got there. And then we told him that the nurse that was taking care of him now, does have a wedding ring on, so she's taken. Haha! He chuckled. Then pointed his finger at me and told me "get married", then we left.


So, life is pretty stinking funny!

And my preceptor is stinkin awesome!! We have way to much fun! And he is way to smart for his own good! And he asks me the most ridiculous questions, that I go and ask the nurses, and they don't even know. He won't tell me what the answer is, ever, until he knows I have chewed it over a good 20 times in my brain. So, we definitely learn a ton, and we definitely have a lot of fun! And, the best part is, he treats his patients like they are actual human beings! He will let us stay on scene for about 2 hours, if all the patient needs is someone to chat with. And we have. Too much fun! I love it! And he freaking rocks!

I have one week left here. And I am going to miss it . . . a lot.  But, I have learned so much! And have definitely made my stay here worth it. I am very excited to see my family, to finish up schooling; I am graduating from BYU, Idaho in July.  And I'm really excited to see where the wind blows me from there.

Too Much Fun!

Brittany and I have somewhat overlapping schedules, so the only times we get to see each other are either on Sundays, or at crazy hours of the night, so we party it up! And, I tell you what! We have some FuNnY Times! I just stinking love it! I am gonna miss being out here! We are coming right down to three weeks left . . . it's gone fast!, and we have met some Incredible people here! And the best part is . . . it feels like we have known them forever! It's gonna be weird leaving, but, let's not dwell upon that. The best is here and now. 

No longer forward nor behind

I look in hope and fear;

But grateful take the good I find,

The best of now and here.

John G. Whittier

For Valentines Day, which was so much fun! Brittany made me this candy poster, which I LOVE!! And, it has gotten me through many a day since then. I got Brittany those crazy little time crystallized Sea Monkeys that come to life when you add water, and I can seriously get mesmerized by those tiny twitching specks for a good 15 minutes at a time, they are very captivating. So, that has been exciting. I forgot to tell you that for Valentine’s weekend, Christy drove all the way from Missouri to just come spend the weekend with me! It was SO MUCH FUN!! And I honestly can’t wait to be her roommate this coming semester! (Kerri, Christy and I are all living in a house called Bristol Manor right off of campus next semester, and I’m stoked!) And plus, it will be Oh so beautiful weather! Rexburg in the summer is THE PLACE TO BE!! So, I have a grand candy fix, and had the best date night with Christy EVER! (A BBQ at the house . . . YUMM, Going down to Bricktown and strolling along the windy river through down town, Marble Slab Creamery – best ice cream EVER!, and sitting on a tail gate in Toby Keiths ‘I Love this Bar’ Grill. Best V-day Weekend! Thanks for coming Christy! That was way to fun!  

 Christy and me on the cushioned tail-gate coming out of the wall in the entry way of Toby Keith's Place. Marble Slab . . .  Best ice cream IN THE WORLD!! Seriously! So, creamy and such a good flavor! (you know those lotions from bath and body that you always wish could taste how they smell . . . coconut bliss!) Hmm'Mm . . . Heaven.

SEA MONKEY EXTRAVAGANZA!! 

With the 1-2-3 ''easy'' step instructions! Haha! I had to analyze them for a good five minutes to make sure we were giving our sea monkeys the best possible chance to survive and grow! :) 

we brought them to life! Now we have at least 18, that I can count, twitchy specks of life! 

Amidst the trials . . . We have some stinking good times!

Need I say more . . . 

P.S. Brittany never allows you to have a bad day that stays that way. She cheers you up instantly with whatever she can! This days beauty, my door filled with post-it notes EVERYWHERE! :) 

Comments are in!

Alrighty! YaY!! Looks like Everyone's in! 
And yes, it is no wonder where I get my crafty skills from! ;) Thank you!  


Erin = Red


Amber = Cream 


Mom = Black or Eggplant 


Kirstin = the Cream? or Greenish Gray one? Maybe a mixture of both?  


Dallen = although unspecified = Dark Blue = Manly


Awesome! I'm excited! And, just a little update from the internship stand point of my life . . . I am finally getting to switch preceptors this week. I typed up a very well written email to the supervisor once again, and I so eloquently and forcefully persuaded and demanded to switch. So, hopefully, things will start going a little better on the trucks. And, if not, I will at least get to still crochet special hand crafted hats for ya'll! (a lil southern swang we be pickin up) Anyway! Have an awesome weekend! Love you all!


P.S. technically, Amber was vetoed from the comment position as being in the top 5, since she already had one in the works, so if there is still just one more person out there dying for a hat, I will perhaps accept your plea. :) Let me know if you want one. I'll see what I can do. And Dallen, if you don't want one, you better tell me, cause I will make you one.

Special Once-in-a-Lifetime Offer!

So, I remembered I knew how to croquette, So, that is just what I did. . . 

I croqueted my little heart out. And, it helps my day go by much faster. I have already croqueted 3 hats this week. Yes, I am in business!

Any requests? 

Got 13 more shifts on the ambulance, that is where I am most effective. Don't worry, I keep them as germ free as possible! :)

I think they've turned out really cute! 

No worries men, made Billy one and he LOVES It!! And he is a manly man! So, if you would like a specialty crafted hat from Karli's quick croqueting addiction, Place your order while I am still stuck in the back of a rig! Quick, They're going fast! 

Gonna Give a Quick lil shout out to Breanne and Kerri for their persistence in teaching me how to croquete several times, I think you will be proud of your ambitious results. The best part is, a couple of the gals from the Relief Society are coming to my house this Friday for me to teach them how to make one of these exquisite little numbers! It's gonna be fun!


FIRST FIVE TO COMMENT GET ONE IF THEY INDICATE THE DESIRE!!
     So, Hurry quick! 
and tell me the color choice! 

Everyone is sportin one! Place your order now! Color too! I'm Going yarn shopping this Friday, so better hurry while this once-in a-lifetime offer is still available~ 

P.S. Amber~ you're set! 

Got one in the works for ya! ;)

Intern . . . a recent medical graduate receiving supervised training, sometimes without pay, at a trade or occupation to gain work experience. As a Verb: Confine (someone) as a Prisoner

This has been A CrAzY Week!!

Patients were insane!

• A drunk man that filleted his finger with a machete 3 days prior to us getting there. And, he still had blood on his clothes from the incident . . . . just giving you a taste of his hygiene habits. Lets just say, He didn't smell like roses. He was hilarious though and drunk as a skunk! 
• Two full arrests. 
• The first one. We got an organized rhythm back at a rate of 81, but no pulse. They pronounced her dead in the ER after they worked on her for a good 30 minutes. Then, while they were prepping her for the family to come in and see, she started breathing spontaneously, the nurses thought that it was just her final gasps of life, but then, SHE LIFTED HER HEAD OFF OF THE TABLE!!! So, they worked her for another hour, and then finally pronounced her dead again. 
• The next one, we got a pulse back, began pacing his heart, got a heart beat that synchronized with the electrical impulses from our monitor. Got him to the hospital, the nurses unhooked the pacer!!!!! And, his heart stopped beating . . . BECAUSE They unhooked it! And they accused us of never having a heart beat or a tube correctly placed! When, we were getting capnography readings of 35-40 on the way to the hospital! And, in order to have that high, your heart pretty much has to be beating, and you pretty much need to be exchanging oxygen. I guess it didn't matter anyway though. Because about twenty minutes later they had gotten a copy of the DNR form that the family had signed Earlier that morning. So, then they terminated all treatment anyway. So, kind of an odd situation.

Lets see.
I am most likely switching preceptors this week. So, we will see how that goes. Which means I may possibly switch shift schedules. For multiple reasons.
But, basically I am stuck at where I am at with this current preceptor, and do not feel like I have progressed in my medicine for the past 3 weeks. She takes her job very seriously, and likes things done in a precise manner, as she should, but she takes control of EVERYTHING! Which, is not conducive to my educational well being. I have told her this, she said she would back off a bit, but, inevitably, that has not been the case. I have tried to push my way through it, but it is just not getting better and I am fighting a losing battle while getting run over and put down time and time again by my preceptor. I realize an internship is a learning experience, I knew from the get go it was going to be hard, and if it were easy, it wouldn't be worth it. But, its not worth it when the people that you are working closely with, that are telling you "yay" or "nay" are digging you into the ground, pushing you out of the way, and telling you in vulgarity and profane language that she won't step in until she feels like you have 'messed' up, or are going to slow. Which, the patients that we had for these situations, were NOT going to die by the time we got them to the hospital, because they were -- in part -- fakers, so, super easy to treat, but she gets fed up with them and starts cussing at them and carrying on, while I am trying to do my assessment and get things done, and then she will tell me to get out of the way, just because she is fed up with the BS calls that we get. Honestly, they are the easiest calls you will run, and the best experience FOR A STUDENT to find out the underlying events that made them actually call the ambulance. Which is usually mental disorders or med refills. She is super scary to even try to stand up to, she gets this untamable fire in her eyes that I don't even want to go up against. Especially because she doesn't really care. She already has her Gold Patch and a job that she has had for 12 YEARS! So, at this point, she would probably actually prefer to get fired, for it is an excuse for her to finally get out, for she is totally burnt out. So, I have chatted with the supervisor, taken his advice for the week, but I will be chatting with him again tomorrow on seeing what can be done about the situation. So, kind of a scary little plunge at the moment, but, it will all work out. And hopefully I can become everything that I need to while I am out here. Everything that is supposed to happen will. And, the Lord is looking out for me. Besides, I have learned SO MUCH about quite a variety of topics--especially myself-- since she has been my instructor. But, now, I just need someone that will let me spread my wings and get in there and actually LET ME mess up so I can LEARN from my mistakes and progress to better things.

Outside of the MEDIC life.

Brittany and I are in THE BEST singles branch family EVER!! There is a bond and a knit tightness that I can already feel so strongly! I went to a University Singles Ward activity yesterday with 5 of the kids from my branch. We went bowling. AND .. . . .

I WON QUEEN of the Bowling Extravaganza! I got the highest score out of the girls! And got a sombrero with "QUEEN" written across the front! It was super awesome and totally unexpected. We ate tacos afterwards and did some karaoke afterwords. Then, I went to IHOP with a couple of friends later that night. And the best part about yesterday . . .

STETSON MADE IT TO TOWN! Happy day! I gave him a much needed hair cut and a little tour of the essential spots he would need to know around the city. Like where work is, where Britt and I live. that's about it and that's about as VITAL to life in OKC as it gets.

So, another week down.
It is my half way evaluation this week for my internship. And, we'll see how it goes.

Got a branch bon fire outing lined up for this friday! Super Stoked! It's gonna be BIG!! So, I just need to make it through the next 96 hours. And . . . . All will be well!

Love you all!